REVIEWS

Pitchfork – No, when it comes to nu disco, Italians don't necessarily do it better. But William Bottin makes a pretty good case. The Venice-based DJ, sound designer, and film score composer told Vice his "inspiration is basically the music I've been hearing on Italian TV my whole life... those late night movies shows with cheap horror films, Giallos, soft erotica." Never mind that the original Italo disco often wasn't even Italian: Whatever was coming through the airwaves when Bottin was growing up has helped his tracks find homes on such labels as Belgium's Eskimo (Aeroplane, Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas) and, of course, New Jersey's Italians Do It Better (Glass Candy, Chromatics). "Sciarando el Scuro", apparently Venetian dialect for "throwing light into the darkness", is from his debut LP, Horror Disco on Bear Funk, and it's the kind of seamlessly crafted space disco groover that gradually starts to grow on you. The funky bass and tropical-disco percussion set a playfully retrofuturist vibe from the outset, but it's that laughing, high-pitched hook-- a weird, whistley sound, almost definitely a human voice... but if you told me it was, like, pebbles plinking into different-sized water glasses I wouldn't be surprised-- that keeps this track playing in my head after it ends. So there's no reason for the Italo revival to get caught up in mindless nationalism, but raygun-synth fetishists from Portland, Oregon, to Gothenburg, Sweden, should take off their robot helmets long enough to give this one a listen.

San Francisco Bay Guardian – "I don't have a home page" declares Bottin. "I live in Rupert Murdoch's trailer park." When your epigraphs are that witty and true, you don't need to write lyrics — a comic sensibility breathes from your melodies. Such is the case with Horror Disco (Bearfunk), though its 14 tracks don't steer entirely clear of words: highlights such as "Disco for the Devil" and "Slashdance" are designed to make your feet smile and your mouth dance. Based in Venice, Bottin has a closer understanding of the links between Italo disco and giallo soundtracks than most. (Johnny Ray Huston)

InTheNews UK – With such a blatant homage to B-movies, zombie thrillers and hi-nrg disco, Bottin's full lengther was in danger of resembling a daft child at Halloween rather than the real deal - a full on disco Driller Killer. However, the big night time throbbers such as Horror Disco, Disco for the Devil and Slashdance show enough dance floor nouse to steer the whole concept away from being a cheeky pastiche. And Bottin, who despite all the vampire baloney seems like a thoroughly normal chap, is currently making music for one of the coolest labels on earth in the form of Italians Do it Better, so his electronic credentials are full on. If you're vibing off Glass Candy, the Chromatics or Arthur Russell, then this is leather-belted noir disco you can ill afford to survive an evening without. (Jim Ottewill)

Turntable Lab – Bottin's been releasing some awesome stuff this past year on the revered Italians Do It Better label, hypnotizing us with his affinity for smooth, sexy, Italo synth sounds. Well, his full album is finally here and is 14 tracks, consisting of all brand new material. It's called Horror Disco, but it's not as dark as it seems. I's jam packed with extended new disco tracks that lie somewhere between pumping dance tracks that are perfect for elite fashionable crowds to balearic synthscapes with a driving beat.

Vice Magazine – William Bottin is one of the finest purveyors of electronic disco around at the moment. His tracks have a clear Italo influence, and he’s actually Italian, which probably means he has more of a right or something. Even Andy Bell from Erasure likes him! (Joel Wright)

Urlaubshits – It seems amazing that in the past few years, despite the revival and critical reappraisal of Italo disco as a musical form, and a record label that proclaims “Italians Do It Better”, there are still very few Italians making contemporary Italo disco. Thankfully, with Bottin’s debut album, Italy has a native nu-Italo producer to be proud of. The album’s title may conjure up images of a Goblin inspired trip through Dario Argento horror movie nostalgia, but in actuality it is filled with thick, Moroder-esque basslines that inspire dancing rather than dread, though there is a definite undercurrent of something creepy which runs throughout. But it’s the darker edge to Italo that Bottin nails which stops the album from veering into the realm of pastiche. What really has to be applauded however, is that in a genre increasingly dominated by remixes and singles, Bottin has managed to create an album, 14 tracks in length which maintain enough quality to make him no longer one to watch, but a producer who has well and truly arrived.

Boomkat – The impeccable Italians Do It Better label serves up two sides of spotlit glamour disco from William Bottin for better smelling dancefloors everywhere. With a background in sound design for a number of art institutions in his native Italy, Bottin has opulent disco credentials to die for. This is a guaranteed floor filler with ornate synthline frills for all the Lindstrom//Nu Disco heads to get moist over. Handsome.

Half Stereo – Bottin's album is one of a kind, a spooky version of Italo disco you know but never heard before. Bottin is the surname of the Venetian artist Guglielmo Bottin. He is very good at creating timeless moments in the disco universe. What ever you call it, Balearic, Italo, space or pop, his style is as unique as it gets and his Bear Funk debut "Horror Disco" is one of the best-for me the best-disco albums of this year. He is living in Venice, keeping his work silent and deep. Like a vampire sleeping at daytime. At night he flies around Europe to spread his poisonous music and hang around with fresh blooded. His track "Disco For The Devil" is one of the best ever disco tracks. Already a classic. With Douglas Meakin's vocals and words, Bottin keeps up the Simonetti vibe and builds upon his unique style. We are very pleased and excited because Bottin will be playing in İstanbul very soon. (Christopher Colak)

Branche Ton Sonotone – Qui mieux que William Bottin (en vrai il s’appelle Guglielmo) producteur ritalien, pouvait s’atteler à sortir ce style du placard avec Horror Disco, un curieux mélange entre italo-disco(s)mique et house-music léchée ? Personne. Ce mec est le genre de gars qui fait pas de bruit mais qui est plutôt surdoué musical. En étirant ses morceaux jusqu’à des compositions de 6 minutes, Bottin essaie de ne pas tomber dans la surenchère discorrifique-cheap. Il temporise, décante, tente d’introduire de la subtilité dans les harmoniques, prend le temps de placer des petits sons annexes, des samples de voix venues de l’espace, de travailler le beat qui parfois se fait tribal (Sciarando il scuro)… En fait, Horror Disco prouve simplement que le terreau musical apparemment stérile des séries Z des années 70 peut s’avérer fructueux lorsque l’on a de bonnes idées, du talent et de l’énergie.

Triangle Magazine – A contre-courant des tendances actuelles majeures, tant en terme de production que de booking, il existe des labels ne sacrifiant pas leur direction artistique au profit de celle-ci. Parmi eux, le label US Italians Do It Better à qui l’on doit Glass Candy ou encore Chromatics. Bottin aka Guglielmo Bottin est le genre de producteur hyper-actif. Autant dire que le mec est plutôt balèze. Le voici donc de retour en 2009 avec Horror Disco sur le label US. C’est 14 titres qui retracent l’histoire de la disco italienne des 70’s. Tous les styles y sont passés en revue, de l’italo à la cosmic. Bottin n’oublie aucun courant, presque parfois à la limite du kitchissime.

Blow Up Magazine – William Bottin ritorna con questo nuovo progetto che oscilla tra italo e dub-disco, con quel suono melange di collosi graffi funk analogici e dubbate strutture post-disco di cui si sono innamorati gli inglesi. "Horror Disco" fotografa il produttore veneziano nella sua piena maturità espressiva, dal velo di tenebre che circonda scenograficamente la title-track alle spettacolari reiterazioni di Theme From St.Mark 30124, dall'italo dreamy di No Static a una canzone wavey come Disco For The Devil, dallo screziato funk cinematico di Venezia Violenta alle svagate allucinazioni fusionare di Sciarando El Scuro, passando per i passi stringy di Slashdance, l'electrofunk eccentrico di Mary Lewis, la navale Roger Bacon, il funk a taglio di Bianca, le gomme magiche in salsa krauta di Magnetic Cat, la spy fumetto di Undercover Monkey, l'elegiaca, conclusiva Endless Mother. (Christian Zingales)

Italian Embassy – Forse non in tanti se ne sono accorti ma in Italia abbiamo un signor produttore dance, anche se i suoi brani personali e i remix che cura non trovano situazione comoda nel pensiero unico della meteora neo-dance che vede comunque lo Stivale ai vertici internazionali. l musicista veneziano recupera dal periodo d’oro 1978-1985 i suoni che permeavano buona parte delle trasmissioni televisive utilizzandoli ai fini di un range che va dall’italodisco al funk, da Giorgio Moroder passando per riflessi balearici e notti in bianco a comporre, registrare e mixare. (Enver)

DJ FEEDBACK

Aeroplane (Eskimo Recordings) – Amazing release!!! Love "Disco for the Devil" and "Sciarando El Scuro! Will play them for sure. More please!

Pilooski – This is the shit!!

Pete Herbert (Reverso 68) – Great tracks, liking the Sciarando El Scuro and Cosmic pizza for the dancefloor...had one of those last night! Bianca is a winner too....

Danielle Baldelli (Cosmic) – Cosmic pizza - I like it... Sciarando el Scuro: good !!!

Dicky Trisco (Disco Deviance/Boogie Corporation) – High production values. Really liking Sciarando El Scuro and Cosmic Pizza. Will be playing.

Still Going (DFA) – Once again, nice stuff... keep 'em coming!

Matty J (The Agency) – YES YES YES please massively feeling this

Humberto (Social Disco Club) – For me this is one of the best releases of the year so far. Amazing! Full support

Gucci Soundsystem (DFA) What a great record. All 4 tracks are well produced analogue disco gems but for sheer genius Ill be playing Disco for the Devil. Best lyrics/song Ive heard in ages.

Mathieu Alline (Groove Armada) – Bianca is real nice tune thanks

David Bruno (slapyouinpublic.com) – Love Bottin!

Spacid (Radius) – Disco for the devil is my cup of tea - i love those magical and cheerful vocals - great track, i totally love it !

Love Supreme (ESP) – Sciarando El Scuro is my favourite, is gonna be a great album!

Danny Berman (Red Rack'em) – This is ace - I really like Sciarando El Scuro, Cosmic Pizza and Bianca - proper 80's shade stuff - love the Numan-esque synths on Bianca - wow!!!

Hot Coins – Will be massively supporting this on The Smugglers Inn Radio show...

Junji Masayama - Great Cosmic sound from Bottin. He Has something great touch and skill to make such a deep and funky sound. Fantastic!

J Montag (iTunes.com) - Love his italians & eskimo releases, this one continues to build his rep. Great tunes

Artur Korycinski (Club DJ - Poland) - Nice music... Would love to see this non existing movie ;)

Simon Macdonnel (Si.Mac) – Love the funky bassline and upbeat atmosphere of Sciarando El Scuro, but my favourite has to be Disco for the Devil its so damn catchy. (cont'd) I wasn't sure what to expect after the sampler, I really liked some of the tracks but others were not to my taste. After giving it a quick listen I was all wrong, this album is brilliant. A real variation in tracks but retaining his style all throughout the album. Genius!

Jim Stanton (Horse Meat Disco) – Late night (or after hours?) horror stories. Could be great for the radio show

Enver (BlowUp) – "Disco for the devil" is a strange italo-funk mix that reminds both late 70s and early 80s, it could have been a floorfiller in those years so we could talk about a classic, today. "S-ciarando el scuro" is a good synthy take for a pursuit scene in the night, first clubs open, you don't know where is the Good and the Evil: I think it works. "Cosmic pizza" is... just cosmic! Perfect into a retrofuturistic set at Baia's or in a Garda Lake disco, Citroen parked outside and stroboscopic lights. "Bianca" confirms the old-school inspiration for this sampler, maybe it's the less danceable among the tracks but it doesn't matter, classful Bottin "knows the score" and I wish him/you all the best for the release.

Toby Tobias (Rekids) – Wow! Fantastic sounding EP - knew i was gonna like this as loved his last Italians release - but this is gonna stay around a while i reckon - best Bear release in ages!

George Demure – Very nice actually. Bianca and D for D lovely.

Justus Kühncke (Kompakt) - Superb, will play out!

Christopher Colak (Dinamo 103.8 FM / Acik Radio 94.9FM) – Excellent retro feel this is pure italo disco space bangin' I love this all! Looking forward for the album!

Yes i am digging this!! – Rob Mello

Cosmo Vitelli – Sciarando El Scuro seems to be for me

Maelstrom (Eskimo, Mindless Boogie) – Excellent EP. Looking forward to the album!

Pippi Langstrumpf (Disco Bellini) – William Bottin has much more intelligence and culture of the producers' average. The Italian electronic scene is very lucky of his presence.

Massimiliano Pagliara (Balihu, Eskimo) – Awesome!

Max Essa – Genius!

Discodromo (Internasjonal) – Really nice tracks... mostly cosmic pizza.. love tarantellish bass.. and bianca can't wait to hear album

Fabrizio Mammarella (Tiny Sticks) – I'm a big fun of the guy from venezia!

Ben Terry – Lovely stuff thanks! Bianca & Disco devil straight in the wallet.

Neil Thornton (Lasermagnetic) – Really nice disco for the devil and bianca are doing it for me - big fan of this sound!

All awesome! These are gems. – Qzen (Apple/40 Thieves)

Roy Dank (XLR8R) – Great effin' album! I had already been a fan following his Italians Do It Better debut, but man can this guy write! "Bianca" and "Venezia Violenta" are my picks of the very impressive lot. Go Bear Funk go!

Jad Lee (Bigstereo) – Was really into No static. Was thinking Bottin was a one hit wonder. He's definately not though. Standout tracks are Theme From St Mark, Sciarando El Scuro, Slashdance and Roger Bacon.

Jim Adam (Lullabies in the Dark) – Nice work, very fine art (especially on synths), a bit of darkness and italo disco influences. Endless Mother is my favourite. I love it.

Rob Wood (Music Concierge) – Horror disco is guaranteed to scare the pigeons in Piazza San Marco. A brilliant album!

Pee Play (Honey Soundsystem) – Love some of these tracks for playing out and all of them for listening. Love you Bear Funk!

Henry Maldonado – Unbelievable! I Can't believe it took me this long to grab this from you guys. I've actually heard No Static on a few mixes and fell in love with it the first time I heard it. Incredible album... a winner here

Billy Bogus – Great suspence and melody, a cool atmo that does not betray the main title, great album!

Rayko (Rare Wiri) – Loving the entire release. Especially no static

Serge Santiago – Bianca track: ace!

Severino (Horse Meat Disco) – Good stuff. Sciarando El Scuro is my fav! dancefloor oriented

Beccy Grierson (Gilles Peterson / Somethin Else) – Big fan

Stèphane Girard (Resident Advisor/DFA) – Italo at its best

Makossa (G-Stone/ÖRF) – Will play cosmic pizza! looking forward to the album, full support from vienna

Neal (Supper Club Radio) – I've never been so excited by a release - i listened to every single track from beginning to end! This album and Bottin are destined for big things!

Klim (D-Pulse) – you should shoot the movie for this outstanding disco soundtrack! Album is 100% reflects the mood of true disco music. Great work. Looking forward to have it in record box! Personal favorites: Roger Bacon, No Static, Theme from St.Mark 30124

Markus Breidbach (Discotrax.de) – Great sleazy stuff.

Wawashi – Amazing release! Bottin rocks! Viva Italia!